This is the story of our two year preparation to become fulltime RV'ers, and our big, new adventure that began on May 31, 2015. It's just the two of us, and the "fluffy dog", off to see this beautiful country with only the seasons as our guide. We're really doing it!

Tuesday, July 11, 2017

Return to Yaquina Head Light

July 7, 2017Newport, OregonTwo years ago I fell in love with the beauty of Yaquina Head Lighthouse. We visited on a cloudy day, and again when the sun was shining. Both were spectacular, and very different.It was a must-see again this stop, so Friday we drive north to the other side of town. The Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area includes a wonderful visitors' center - probably the best one I've seen.Covering the geology and ecosystem, plus the history of the lighthouse, the center is full of great information. We enjoy the video about the challenges of building the lighthouse.

Daring exploration.

The video is shown inside a "ship".

I love that the VC is set in the reclaimed quarry - much prettier!

There's a line of cars at the entrance and the parking lot at the lighthouse has one spot left for us. There is also a walking path from the VC, so it is very crowded. The weather is squinty and humid, and it's another unique experience.

Yaquina Head Lighthouse, 1873

Eroding basalt gives us a black sand beach.

Nesting Cormorants and their chicks.

Fuzzy baby sea gulls and one adult.

High tide hides the secrets of the tide pools.

The tallest of the Oregon lighthouses at 92 feet - she's a beauty.

Two years ago the rocks were covered with Common Muir. This year, only Cormorant.

A Harbor Seal watches the tourists on the beach.

Love the freckles.

Basalt caverns.

New places and surprise discoveries are a wonderful part of this life - AND revisiting special places is just as much fun. Our next location is one of those special places - Saturday we move to beautiful Astoria for our last stop in Oregon for a few weeks.

We really enjoy a well planned out VC. How neat to watch the movie in a "ship!" We watched a movie in a covered wagon once with all the rocking and rolling as we traveled. Really added to the experience. You are getting me so excited to move around to Forks and get back to the coast. Love those photos on the cliff!

What a fabulous lighthouse. Wonderful to have seen it in all weathers although I suspect you might love it even more with fewer people – like maybe 2 and a dog?? I think they should call the rocks Guano Rocks. Oh boy, Astoria. I’ve been reading a lot about it lately on various blogs. Lots of the folks I follow are obviously on the same route. Looking forward to your eyes.

It does seem like several of us are along this route. It's definitely a great-weather area of the country to be in during this hot summer. The number of people is a negative, we've been lucky to find some quiet spots, but not all. 2+dog is perfect :-) Guano Rocks would be the right name!!

Yaquina Head is one of our favorite areas, too. How fun to see your photos of the Cormorant chicks! We've seen them nesting, but I don't think we've ever gotten photos of the chicks. Freckles on the seal, that's a good description. :-)) That black basalt beach below is one of the most unique we've encountered -- it's made up of smooth kiwi-sized round slippery rocks. Beautiful tidepools, but a treacherous beach!

I looked up the tide when we arrived and was bummed there was only one really low tide the whole time we were there - and I didn't want to get up that early :-) I love the sound of those basalt rocks when they roll with the tides. I was excited to see the chicks :-))))